Russellville Lady Cyclones head coach Harley Sisson was recently selected by league coaches as the 7A/6A-Central Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Sisson was also honored with the award in 2011.

“There’s so many good coaches out there,” Sisson said. “I have so much respect for them and appreciate what they do and their programs. For them to acknowledge that or recognize me, that’s huge.”

While the recognition is important, Sisson said he would take recognition for his players over himself any day of the week.

“It’s all about the players,” he said. “I wish that people really knew what all went into coaching. It’s not just driving up to a field and playing ball. There’s so much more that goes into it. My goal, as head coach and in my career, is when we play someone, my players are prepared because I’ve done everything I possibly could to help them. If I’ve done that, then I’ve fulfilled my obligation as coach.”

The Lady Cyclones (20-3-1) went undefeated in conference for the first tim in school history and claimed the conference title, but fell short in the semifinals of the Class 6A state tournament to eventual state champion Benton. It was not the way Sisson had hoped the season would in.

“It’s sad to say this,” Sisson said. “We had a great season, but not a successful year. We won the conference, went undefeated, but we wanted to take it one step further and win state at Bogle Field. We came up short.”

In the end, Sisson said his goal was to give his team a chance, in which he said he was definitely successful.

“I think if we’d played them (Lady Panthers) in a series, we would have won,” he explained. “Sometimes that happens, though. Sometimes it’s not the better team that wins, it’s the team that plays the best. That’s what Benton did. They did everything right to beat us.

“But in the end, you want your kids to have a chance, and we definitely did. We had a good season and did a lot of great things. It didn’t finish the way we wanted, but at the end of the day, we had a great season.”

It comes down to preparation — the question Sisson asked himself after every game, especially when the Lady Cyclones lost.

“What did I not do to get them ready?” Sisson said. “You always have to evaluate and find an edge for your players. I think that’s what good coaches try to do.”

There are constant rewards, Sisson said, whether the team wins or loses. Sisson likes watching the growth of his players. He enjoys seeing them take the field as timid freshmen and leave as confident seniors.

“When someone comes and watches a game, they see a scoreboard,” Sisson said. “Maybe they see a ball get hit to shortstop and a girl fields it. What they don’t see is when she first started playing she couldn’t do that. They don’t see the first time they go up to bat and they are afraid.”

Watching them grow as players and in confidence is Sisson’s reward for hours of hard work.

“It’s about making them feel good about themselves when they leave this program,” he said. “Hopefully in the midst of a lot of winning games and championships.”